Outland (2015) (rereleased 2019)
By: Dennis Taylor
Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

This is Taylor’s first book originally published in 2015 and re-released in 2019. It is interesting, but not as engaging as his Bobiverse series. His ability to take real technical details from today and interweave them with the technical details of science fiction allows me to feel like I could understand and live in the world he creates. Some plot devices used in the book are firmly founded in reality and are covered in detail: the geology of an exploding volcano, speed of sound, etc. These accurately portrayed details helped to carry me through the book.

At the same time, his views on sociology and political science are arrested and disdainful. His characters feel at home in the utopian technical world he creates. Filled with close friends who are full of empathy for each other. They recognize that other people are necessary. But, the dynamics portrayed when dealing with large groups of people are less convincing and begin to drag the story down. As such the ability to suspend belief and let Taylor carry me through has definite limits.

This isn’t the last books of his I’ll read. His plot devices and technical details are enjoyable. But, they can only take one so far.